The Supreme Court has reserved its decision on appeals against a ruling by the Allahabad High Court that declared a law on madrasas in Uttar Pradesh unconstitutional. The High Court, in its March 22 decision, stated that the law goes against the principle of secularism. The judges had ordered the state government to enrol madrasa students in regular schools and to create new schools if necessary, ensuring that no child under 14 is left without a place in school.
A Chief Justice of India (CJI) D Y Chandrachud led bench with Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra heard a group of attorneys on behalf of eight petitioners (including the one filed by Anjum Kadari)besides an additional solicitor K M Natraj from Uttar Pradesh government for approximately two days before finally reserving the verdict.
On Monday, the final arguments on the pleas against Allahabad’s ruling were heard by the bench from senior lawyers Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Salman Khurshid and Menaka Guruswamy for the petitioners. On Tuesday, the top court heard from senior advocates Mukul Rohatgi, P Chidambaram and Guru Krishna.
The CJI-led bench on April 5 had given relief to around 17 lakh madrasa-going students by staying the verdict of the Allahabad High Court.
The bench noted that the view of the High Court was not correct and that it misinterpreted the provisions of the Madrasa Act 2004.
